When his eyes landed on me sitting beside my grandparents, his expression shifted—first irritation, then realization.
“What’s this about?” Grandpa repeated; fought to keep his anger in check. “How could you treat your own son like that?
“He just graduated from college and you kicked him out with two hundred bucks? Are you out of your mind?”
A flicker of guilt crossed my father’s face, but he quickly straightened his back and spoke self-righteously.
“Dad, I did this for his own good! It’s called adversity education—the most popular teaching method abroad! He’s twenty-two, an adult. You expect him to just keep sponging off me? In other countries, kids move out at eighteen. I’m already being generous!”
He sounded like he was giving a lecture, so sure of himself.
Grandma shot him a sharp look. “Adversity education, my foot! I bet it was that snake woman, Linda, who told you to do this. She can’t stand Leo and you just went along with her to mistreat my grandson!”
Father’s face changed instantly. “Mom! What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with Linda—it was my decision! For the record, Leroy’s my son too. I’ll treat them both the same way!”